Sarah Palin's first 15 minutes of fame on John McCain's GOP ticket

It's a long ways from the deck of one of Sen. John McCain's uncountable houses in Sedona, Ariz., to the modest city of Wasilla, Alaska, that Gov. Sarah Palin calls home with her fisherman husband Todd and their five children to the Buckeye Corner sporting goods store in West Columbus, Ohio.

And to the home pages and front pages of a nation seemingly fascinated by the sudden explosion onto the political stage of a fresh, bespectacled face among a crowd of too-familiar folks who've been yada-yada-ing about the same old stuff for nearly 20 months now.

Now, just in time for Labor Day, a new drama series to follow.

But in a matter of hours the dramatic selection of the 44-year-old reform Republican woman with the sharp elbows under the basketball hoops as McCain's running mate suddenly changed the subject away from last night's immense Democratic evangelical gathering at Denver's Invesco Field.

And it instantly energized much of the GOP's conservative base that has been yawning its way through the summer with the aging Arizona heir to its party nomination.

Charlie Black, a senior McCain advisor, told The Times' Maeve Reston that he was just in a room with 300 conservatives where James Dobson, the Focus on the Family founder who reaches millions of evangelicals daily with his radio broadcasts and was once threatening....

...not even to vote he was so underwhelmed by McCain, walked in and announced that Palin had done the trick and he was gonna endorse the GOP candidate.

And the seas parted!

The Ticket reported this morning that Dobson wasn't the only conservative pleased with the surprise VP selection, which McCain revealed at midweek to the self-described hockey mom.

And suddenly there she was this afternoon on center stage with her running mate visiting one of those souvenir shrines to the Ohio State Buckeyes and bumping into Joan McCann, a 61-year-old independent voter who called Palin's choice "brilliant, inspiring" and said she was now leaning toward McCain.

"Thank you so much," Palin replied before plunging into the sea of red gear to purchase a fleece hoodie for herself, a sleeper for her newborn Trig, and a cheerleader's outfit for her excited daughter Piper, who might be excused for thinking this sudden fame business has its perks.

Even Rush Limbaugh, the maestro of McCain skepticism on the right, reported to his millions of listeners and online subscribers an overwhelmingly enthusiastic response to the selection of a governor with a compelling personal narrative who cut taxes as a mayor and successfully stood up to a corrupt party establishment to become chief executive of the nation's largest state.

And the new energy couldn't come -- not accidentally, of course -- at a better time for the Republican's campaign as it heads into its national convention in St. Paul starting Monday, unless the German hurricane called Gustav changes the schedule.

At organizational convention meetings in St. Paul this afternoon, word was passed that about $2 million in new donations had poured into the campaign and Republican National Committee within three hours of Palin's announcement.

Scott Reed, who managed former Sen. Bob Dole's unsuccessful presidential run in 1996, told The Times' Michael Finnegan that the choice of Palin was a "bold and imaginative move" that "totally restructured the race. She brings McCain back to being a true reformer and an agent of change."

Reed said she's a good campaigner who upset a Republican incumbent and beat a better-known returning Democratic gubernatorial candidate. She advocates energy independence. Her husband works on an oil rig and belongs to a union. "The movement conservatives are ecstatic," Reed said.

Then, he added, "Her two years of executive-level decision-making as the governor are two more than Biden and Obama have combined."

It's a long way to Nov. 4. Many potential potholes for the national neophyte. But the first few hours were good. Then, as she left the Buckeye souvenir shop with her purchases, the Republican Party's newest national star turned to her daughter with concern.

"Are you sure we paid for it?" she asked, worried about shoplifting on her first day as the party's vice presidential nominee-to-be. There were no arrests.

--Andrew Malcolm

Photo credit: Al Grillo / Associated Press

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Comments

[gorefan]

Gov. Palin may have been caught lying in the ethics investigation taking place in Alaska.

Go to youtube and search for "GOVENOR Sarah Palin From Alaska under investigation" for a television news broadcast that outlines her inconsistent statements.

She maybe a female Alberto Gonzales.

[kaddie]

Wow - this is such a blatant insult to women that only someone from McCain's generation (or a misogynist) could think of this as an equal replacement for an intelligent running mate.

Not only does is Palin just another BIG OIL crony in a party plagued by such accusations, but she hasn't even displayed the same level of intellectualism or drive that we expect from men. She's not pushed herself to achieve so that she could go to the best schools. She could have at least earned the grades to go to a Harvard, Yale, or Columbia even if she declined later on.

And her exposure to the world is limited to a town of 9,000 people, and a state with one of the lowest population levels in the country?!? If this were a male candidate would he stand a chance of becoming President? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!! And Huckabee's loss during this Presidential season helped prove that.

Obama has represented hundreds of thousands for 2 terms as a State Senator and millions as a US Senator.

If he had Palin's extremely limited knowledge, skills, and educational background, he never would have made it on ANY parties ticket less known been nominated to potentially become the next Commander and Chief.

Worse yet, apparently, her supporters expect that Biden will have a difficult time debating her because he may be overly forceful with her. LOL!!! There's a very realistic chance that she may become President and she will have to deal with world leaders who will most certainly treat her roughly. If she wants to play the weakling woman then she has NO PLACE in politics and certainly no PLACE IN WORLD politics.

What a pathetic choice!!!

Her only real drive has been to have 5 kids and to tell other people what they can and cannot do with their bodies even though this is a democracy.

This is a resuscitated version of that unqualified idiot Qualye all over again, except this time it has Nazi women overtones.

Welcome to the Republican version of the Nazi Female leader Gertrud Scholtz-Klink. Another 'cute' woman who happened to be a good speaker and the epitome of backwards thinking for both women and democracy.

The only ones impressed are the Press that continues to trumpet this woman as if she's the 2nd coming of Christ.

Oh...wait that's right most of the television commentators focusing on this woman ad nauseum are in that top 5% of income earners that would be affected by having to pay the same percentage in taxes that the 95% below them do.

No conflict of interest there ;)

[Charles L. Freeman]

One thing about McCain this campaign has shown; his staff usually is surprised by something in someone's past (see Hagee and Parsley). Something tells me this ethics probe in Alaska can't and won't be easily swept aside. And, once the euphoria settles down and more things come out about Palin (and they ALWAYS do when someone without a long track record is suddenly thrust onto the national stage), she won't survive the scrutiny and will be force to resign using her newborn son as the "official reason". Mark my words.

[Matt B]

If you want to talk about scandals, why don't you talk about the scandal with Obama and Tony Rezco?

[deborah Alfano]

John McCain good for you, for selecting Governor Palin

[Christian Tardieu]

For me, this selection made by John McCain is a bit surprising due to the fact that many attacks made by the republican party towards the Obama Campaign is that Obama has very little national politcal experience which also seems to be the case with Sarah Palin. She is a relative unknown to many Americans which may also affect the amount of trust that the American people will give to someone who they are unfamiliar with. Though seemingly a hypocrytical pick, it does make sense because with this pick, McCain is seemingly reaching out to the younger female vote who may have been on the fence between the McCain and Obama.

[tlsmith1963]

My first reaction to Palin was "Is this a joke?" What a bad, bad choice. And they think I will vote for McCain just because I'm a woman & so is Palin? Dream on, Republicans. Palin is another Quayle. I'm sticking with Obama. Sorry.

[Phil G.]

I keep hearing the same thing from friends and co-workers about McCain's pick:

He. Chose. A. Beauty. Queen.

For Vice President of the United States of America. Daring? More like dementia being punctual.

[RC]

To the person who commented about the top 5% having to pay the same percentage of taxes as the 95% below them:
If the top 5% paid the same as the other 95%, the federal government would go bankrupt. Do some research. The top 10% of wage earners in the U.S. pay more than 40% of the taxes. The poor pay virtually no income tax. The rich people in America pay way more than their fair share of taxes.

[mcs]

I predict she withdraws before the convention. McCain is a total idiot and this proves it.

http://www.newsone.com/elections/article/sarah-palins-troopergate

[Mike]

What does a VP choice like this say about the judgement of John McCain. This choice is SCARY! This woman was a mayor of a town of 6,000 pop. in Alaska and now she has served as Governor of Alaska(pop. just 670,000) for 20 months; that is all the experience she has. This woman is way too new and inexperience to be 'one heart beat away" from the Presidency of the United States. Thank You,

[No]

Matt B, we know about Obama and Rezko, it's now Sarah we DON'T know. It's her scandals we don't know, she has NEVER been fully vetted for the position of VP. Get over your sorry,pathetic posts and start talking about real isses.

[Dan Rains]

If I hear "soccer mom" "9-11" "basketball player" or some other such stupidity mentioned one more time by the people that are going to decide whether or not to send our children to die in wars or make policy decisions on who should be nominated to the bar of the Supreme Court, I'll scream!

What a pandering, shockingly insulting choice made by Mr. "Experience" McCain! I don't care how "politically suave" this choice was. I want the kind of people in office who are intelligent, reasoned thinkers, who have compassion for the poor and believe in the power of government to help the helpless.

Please, God! We're sorry for killing all those Iraqis for oil, but don't make our children pay for it by giving America this choice! Please help us!

[melissa]

As a Virginia Independent Women I would have loved to see HIllary, but I am THRILLED by Sarah Palin!!!!

Go Sarah!!!!!!!

MCcain and Palin is a great ticket and gets my vote hands down.....

[Bill P.]

Scott Reed may be right about Palin's 2 years of executive experience being more than Obama and Biden have. However, iit is also 2 years more than McCain has as well.

McCain can't have it both ways - does he say you need executive experience or not? Which is it?

[SWMIssouri]

The VP Debate will be interesting. Anyone remember Perot's VP answering that he didn't even know why he was there? And even he had some foreign policy experience. What is Palin going to debate?

Obama and Biden are smart folks though. I have every bit of trust that they will continue talking to the American people as if they're adults. Something McCain apparently doesn't understand.

[KYJurisDoctor]

John McCain’s pick of Sarah Palin is a SOLID one for REAL Conservatives, and announcing the pick today is a strategic masterpiece, knocking out Barack Obama/Joe Biden’s after convention euphoria!.

Did I mention that I loved EVERYTHING she said after being introduced by John McCain?

EVERYTHING!! OsiSpeaks[dot]com

[Jeff]

There are certainly a lot of idiots who are quick to criticize Sarah Palin's years of experience as a reformer.

Too bad Obamessiah doesn't have any such experience. By the way Barry, how are Rezko and Ayers doing, anyway?

[Polly A]

This choice shouldn't have been a surprise to the MSM. Most online polls for McCain's Vp consistently had her in 3rd place after Romney and Huckabee, so I ckd her out weeks ago. She seems to be an excellent choice. Waaay more executive experience than any of the three men running.

Everyone talking about women voting for her, but not much about how many men will vote for her because she is "hot". lol

[Darr West]

I hear that MILF Hunter is trying to get her to do a spread! Woudn't that be nice. Beaver from Alaska! I'll bet she has the teeth for it too!

[Abake]

I was shocked by this announcement this morning- and was ready to say that I just wasn't going to vote- who is this woman...and what the heck was McCain thinking- THEN I got smart and did a little research and found that I deeply admire this woman and everything she has done in her years of leadership- - She ran for each office she held because she believed she could make a difference- and SHE DID!!!- Did you know in her first term as mayor she cut her OWN SALARY- and went on to balance the budget and create a SAVINGS ACCOUNT FOR ALASKA as the governor...not only that- but She is your AVERAGE GAL- who has actually had to fill her own gas tank-- And whoever said that she was another "BIG Oil person" Obviously hasn't done any research. She shut down big oil companies INCLUDING the one her husband worked (on an oil rig...not as an exec) for in a pretty big deal in Alaska-- and turned the deal over to the only people who were within the guidelines they set... upsetting many- but doing the right thing. She is for drilling, yes- but not to put money in Oil Companies pockets- TO PUT GAS IN OUR TANKS THAT WE CAN AFFORD!!!- I am tired of people ignoring the facts and the history behind someone and just jumping to conclusions- thats what I did when I heard this morning- and now I am glad that I did some research. GO SARAH PALIN- refrom America like you reformed Alaska!!!

[Ex-pat in Australia]

Man Alive! Someone who dislikes the division between church and state (creationism), adverse towards gays, caught in a scandal... Sounds like a tried and true republican to me.

Oh, did I also mention that she's untested? Being governor of a state that has less than a million people is practically like being a small town mayor. Under that metric, let's bring in Jerry Springer... former mayor of Cincinnati (metro pop: 2.1 million)!

[Nelson]

There is something about the pitch or the tone of her voice that hurts my ears. I haven't been able to really hear what she is saying, as I have to turn the TV so my ears won't hurt . I will have to read what she is saying or have someone else tell me what she is saying. This has never happened with me before with anybody else on TV.

[Jane]

Ok. So, yes. She WAS a beauty queen. So what?!! That doesn't mean she's not intelligent. That's such a stereotype. The same as the stereotypes liberals are fighting against. I don't get your point!

And all the reasons you hate Sarah Palin for are the same reasons you hate McCain for - her political stances. So, it's not that McCain is 'an idiot,' it's just that his views of what is good for this country are different than yours. He merely chose someone with the same values as him. So, face it! That's why you oppose her.

[ann]

WOW! As a woman I'm really insulted. First of all, all Hillary supporters are not stupid enough to jump ship from the Democratic party because McCain picks any 'ole female to be on the ticket. This woman has a BA in journalism from an average state school. She has two years of experience governing a state with less people than the city of Charlotte, NC. Prior to that - whoa, she cut taxes in a city of 8,500 people. PS - for the Limbaugh fans who don't know the difference...Alaska is the largest state in terms of square footage. It's the 48th smallest state in terms of population. If I want someone to manage an iceberg, I'll vote for her. So, if Mccain has a heart attack, this person is going to lead the United States of America????????